With new electricity provider for Berkeley, cleaner options available (12/6/2018)

Berkeley, California (Thursday, December 06, 2018) - Berkeley residents and businesses now receive greener sources of electricity and have the option to get completely carbon-free power such as solar or wind.

The new electricity provider is East Bay Community Energy, an organization formed by Alameda County and cities within the county to provide cleaner and more local sources of electricity. PG&E continues to deliver electricity and gas, maintain the power lines, respond to outages, and provide billing.

Berkeley PG&E customers were enrolled in November in EBCE's Bright Choice standard electricity service, which is less expensive than current PG&E rates. You can also 'opt up ' to even cleaner sources of electricity and help reduce Berkeley's carbon emissions:

Opt Up to EBCE's Brilliant 100, which offers 100% carbon-free electricity, with 40% from renewable sources such as wind, solar and 60% from large hydroelectric. This would be at the same price as PG&E rates.

To learn more about your options, visit EBCE online or contact the Call Center at 1-833-699-3223.

The Berkeley City Council approved East Bay Community Energy as an electricity supplier for Berkeley on November 1, 2016. EBCE began serving businesses and institutional organizations in June 2018, and enrolled residential customers in November. Solar customers will begin service in 2019. Your household may have already received information from EBCE about your electricity options, and you can expect more EBCE communications in the coming months.

On April 24, 2018, Berkeley City Council voted to Opt Up its municipal accounts to EBCE's 100% carbon-free electricity service - Brilliant 100 - reducing municipal greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50%. However, we still have work to do as a community to help the City reach its Climate Action Plan.

While the East Bay Community Energy now provides Berkeley with cleaner power, residents and businesses can learn about further reducing their carbon footprint and can 'opt up to Brilliant 100 or Renewable 100.'